East African MPs advocate for blue economy to drive economic growth, sustainability

Regional leaders within the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) are calling for increased investment in the blue economy, emphasizing its potential for sustainable growth and regional stability.

This drive comes as part of a broader push to harness marine and aquatic resources to address issues such as food security, climate change, and economic inequality across East Africa.

Rwandan representative Hon. Clement Musangabatware underscored the importance of resource mobilization to secure the blue economy’s benefits, especially for partner states looking to balance economic growth with environmental protection.

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“The blue economy is crucial in addressing global issues like food security, climate change, and economic inequality while protecting marine ecosystem services. We urge partner states to mobilize resources and establish a strong legal framework to bridge these gaps,” Musangabatware said on Morning At NTV.

Musangabatware also proposed deploying idle military resources to support the blue economy by bolstering safety and security across water-based industries. “I recommend that we avoid allowing the armies to remain idle and instead deploy them to support the blue economy, where they can play a key role in ensuring safety and security,” he added.

Kenyan representative Hon. David Ole Sankok highlighted the success of Egypt’s Suez Canal as a model for blue economy initiatives in East Africa. He noted that while East African communities often use water resources for basic activities, more could be done to develop them for economic gain.

“Egypt’s Suez Canal is one of the most successful examples of a blue economy, particularly in the transport sector, and here we use our water bodies to wash clothes,” Sankok remarked, emphasizing the need for East Africa to follow suit.

Hon. David Ole, another Kenyan MP, discussed the contrast in aquatic resources between Rwanda and Uganda. He explained that fish production methods differ greatly between the two nations, affecting prices and availability.

“Rwanda has fewer water bodies compared to Uganda, which is abundant in them. Consequently, fish in Rwanda is relatively cheaper, as it is primarily produced in fish ponds, while Uganda relies more on its natural water sources for fishing,” he explained.